I have had a quote from Pedders at Kirawee in Sydney's south (their 28 point safety check thing) and they were pretty expensive. I would have thought it cost about half what they were asking... They had good customer service though and if i had the money i would have got it done there and then.
Here is what needs replacing:
FRONT END:
- front springs
- top ball joints are the original, but there is no movement They recommended
- tie rod ends
- idler arm bushes worn
- drag links knuckles worn
- pivot bushes - lower inners worn
- castor bushes worn
- sway bar bushes worn
REAR END:
- springs need restting
- spring bushes worn
The rear sits a bit high, so i want them reset a bit lower. But I don't want to lower the car too much. I would like to keep the 1 inch lower than std ride height in the front end and the same in the rear. Sydneys roards aren't meant for low cars...
I am going to write up a fax so that i can send it through to other companies (rare spares/kmac/whiteline/beaurepairs/jax/bobjane) for a quote, but I was wondering if anyone knows of a bushes kit for early falcons? Or someone in Sydney that knows what they are doing with early birds suspension?
BTW: pedders wanted $190 just for the upper ball joints? Any tips why they would be so expensive?
I have about $1500 for a budget and that has got to go a long way.... more than just the suspension. I can do most of the labor, so i am just looking for parts.
Your budgets not going to be enough for what I'm going to suggest but it might get you thinking differently, it really all depends on your intentions with the car (restorer, modifier or daily driver on the cheap).
With a recomended replacement list like that have you considered trashing the whole front end and updating? After all even with everything replaced what you will be left with is a well-maintained 60's design suspension. Not really one suited to modern radial tyres, highway speeds and modern dynamics.
At last years Summernats I had a good chat with Revelation Racing Supplies (Sydney business) that had on display a prototype McPherson Strut & Rack & Pinion steering conversion designed primarily to bolt into 60's Falcons and Mustangs. It was also suitable to later model X-series Falcons, Cortina's etc. I can't remember the price (it wasn't cheap) but they claimed it was comparable to replacing everything in a stock front end with replacement parts.
It came fully engineered using readily available parts and promised better handling, reduced weight, improved steering feel & geometry, better shock effectiveness, bigger brakes, adjustable ride height etc. I still have their brochure. Their Ph/Fax is (02) 9907 3755 in Mona Vale.
Very similar in concept to a US kit from FatMan Fabrications. An article from Street Rod magazine has been scanned in by someone here http://pages.prodigy.net/al.martin/FatMan%20R%26P/ where it is being fitted to a 64 Falcon.
tote: no rego yet. the pedders safety check is in preperation for blue slip. don't ask how i got it there... it was less than 500 meters from where it is garaged to where pedders is located, no bull :-) sorry...
Raptor: That is pretty serious and way too much for what I want at this point in time. I am happy to struggle with 60's technology and deal with the bump steer and heavy steering.
I have considered upgrading the front end, but the cost is too much and this car is not what i am after for a long term project. The next car will be more serious. But not for a couple of years. Wife, 2 yo and another baby on the way (february) has forced the current project to be concluded asap. such is life....
On a different note, If you have followed my previous rantings on rego problems, spoke to a guy from the techline of the RTA 1300137302 and he said I don't need to get another engineer certificate done on my car, as the rego papers I have from the early 90's have the existing engine number (from the 250 2v) and modifications report number. Rule 301 from the blue slip policies. Good news for me :-)
Originally posted by xl250 .....The next car will be more serious. But not for a couple of years. Wife, 2 yo and another baby on the way (february) has forced the current project to be concluded asap. such is life....
Totally understand Mike.
I don't want to be the bearer of bad news but you might be a touch optomistic about another project in a few years time, it doesn't get any cheaper, I know.
Wife, 8y/o daughter, 5y/o son, ongoing mortgage, school fees, pool, landscaping, home extensions, new furniture, need I go on.....
......wouldn't swap it for anything. At least my son is showing some mechanical aptitude and interest. Maybe a joint father-son project "..in a few years time.."
It's all good. "A few years time" - it's a relative term... when the kids leave home or sooner. No rush... I have plenty of other toys to keep me amused :-)
I also have an S1 EF Fairmont Ghia with a stage 2 wade cam/exhaust and aftermarket stereo and am going to be doing the suspension on it early next year, or sooner... I am starting to get sea sick on some of the quality NSW roads.
Thanks for the help!
mike.
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Cheers,
Mike Jones
kaitlinj@optushome.com.au
Those early Falcons are so simple and easy to work on. Do it yourself.. But keep in mind bussness will do the whole repo job so you can't return and complain of not working properly.. pluss there is more money for them..Just fix whats wrong, I bet it won't cost much..
Buy the way with a 17 year old 22 y.o boys it doesn't get any cheaper..News this week nearly $500.000 to bring up..EACH !!
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Don't be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the Ark...Professionals built the Titanic!
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Tuned & maintained by "Peppertree Perfmormance". Dart block, Scat 4340 steel crank, Custom C.P pistons.Oliver rods.. Mal Wood twin plate clutch.. Twin SC61/2's,482 rwkw/ 645 rwhp..
Passengers, myocardial infarction material..
R.I.P Possum...
I've replaced nearly all those parts on my xp, not at once though.
There are varying grades of replacement part for these cars with the U.S. sourced being the most expensive and higher quality. There are also some things not to do like the upper inner control arm bushes & spring saddles don't replace them with nolathane, unless you have the stereo up loud all the time (its a real pain and I had to rip mine out and replace with rubber)
First of all get a second opinion Pedders can find problems with radius rod bushes on cars that don't have them.
Secondly get parts from companies that specialise in the early falcons, you have no location so try the club in your area.
RAPTOR, the front end you have suggested is a very good idea, and its only recently that i saw the set up.
if i was to do up a falcon, that would be the first thing i would replace, and you get all new bits, adjustable ride height, and bigger brakes and of coarse better steering and road feel.
i think they also produce a rack and pinion for the falcon as well?? which would complement the whole package.
well done to the guys that designed this front end replacement for the old falcons.
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1963 XL Falcon suspension
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